Car-brake.



W. STEINBURG & D. WEGNER.

CAR BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26,1913.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

my M m. M m mm M m m w ,NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D.C.

W. STEINBURG & D. WEGNBR.

GAR BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26,1913.

1,132,695. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHBETSSHEBT 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS COHFHOTOLITHUH WASHINGTON, D. C,

WILLIAM STEINBURG, or JAMAICA, Am) DANIEL wn-ennn, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, 1915.

Application filed February 26, 1913. Serial No. 750,829.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM STEINBURG and DANIEL WEGNER, a subject ofthe Czar of Russia and a citizen of the United States, and residents ofJamaica, county of Queens, and State of New York, and of New York,county and State of New York, respectively, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Car-Brakes, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to a class of brakes adapted to be used inconjunction with railway cars.

Our invention has for its object primarily to provide a form ofmechanism, or brake designed to be applied to the cars of a railroad foruse in emergency to stop a train within a limited distance whentraveling at a high speed, thus serving to prevent accidents especiallywhen the danger is near by applying the brakes to lessen the speed andthen overcoming the momentum of the train by reversing the rotation ofthe wheels of the cars, and which is adapted to be employed separatelyupon a car, or used in conjunction with the air brake mechanismsordinarily in use.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide spring actuated meansadapted to grip a number of the wheels of the car for yieldinglychecking the forwardrevolution thereof when the brakes have beenapplied, and which serves when the momentum of the train has therebybeen oifset to cause the wheels to rotate reversely for moving the trainin an opposite direction as well as avoiding all sliding of the wheelsupon the tracks to prevent flattening of the'periphcries of the wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a car brake which isoperated preferably by compressed air, and is adapted to be employed ina manner so that all of the cars of a train may be simultaneouslycontrolled.

With these and other objects in View, the invention will be hereinaftermore particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out inthe claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly broken away, of theunderside of the body of a car, showing one form of car brake embodyingour invention as applied to the trucks and wheels thereof. Fig. 2is anenlarged elevation of two of the clutches and the operating partsthereof employed in the brake as applied to two of the wheels of a car.Fig. '3 is a detail view, partly in section, taken on the line IIII ofFig. 2.

fragmentary, of the means adapted to permit the brake to be operatedbycompressed air, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly insection, of the form of valve for controlling the air pressure Feed.

The car brake comprises two corresponding sections 10 and 11 both ofwhich are appliedto the trucks 12 and 12 underneath the body of a car,as 13, and said'sections are independently operable. One of the sectionsis employed for stopping the car when moving in one direction bychecking the rotation of the wheels 14 at one end of the car and alsochecking in unison therewith the set of wheels 14" at the opposite sideof the other end of the car. The second section is employed for stoppingthe car when moving in an opposite direction by checking the set ofwheels 15 at the end of the car which are opposed to the wheels 14* andalso simultaneously checking the set of wheels 15 at the other end ofthe car which are opposed to the wheels 14. I

The sections 10 and 11 of the car brake are similarly constructed, andeach of said sections has a plurality of gripping elements, or clutches16 all of which are alike in formation. Each of the clutches has twomembers, or disks 17 and 18. The disks 17 have central openings throughwhich are passed the axles 19 of the wheels of thecar, and each of'saiddisks is secured by bolts, or otherwise to the inner surface of one ofthe wheels. Projecting from the exposed face of a sleeve 22 which isslidably mounted upon the axle of the wheels of the car. The

central part of the periphery of the sleeve 22 is longitudinallycut-out, or slotted, at 28, and in the spaced lugs 28 and 28 thus formedis held a rod 24:. Upon the rod 24 is movably held one end of aconvoluted spring 25, and the other end of said spring is rigidly heldto a rod provided in a bracket 26 secured to one of the cross-beams ofthe truck of the car. All of the springs 25 are made of unusual strengthto withstand the force of a great strain. The springs 25 of the section10 are arranged so that When the car is moving in one direction and theteeth of the disks 18 are directed into engagement with the teeth of thedisks 17 of the wheels controlled by said section the rotation of thewheels and the disks will be against the tension of these springs whichin turn will yieldingly stop the disks and the wheels for checking themovement of the car, and the springs 25 of the section 11 are arrangedso that when the car is moving in an opposite direction the checking ofthe car is accomplished by a like action against the tension of this setof the springs, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the exterior peripheral surface of each of the sleeves 22 adjacent tothe end thereof which is opposite to its toothed face disk 18 is agroove 27 and in said groove is movably disposed the pins provided atthe forked end 28 of a lever 29 which serves as means to shift thesleeve 22 and the disk 18 of each of the clutches 16 upon the axles ofthe wheels. The lever 29 is fulcrumed, at 80, to an arm 81 projectingfrom the crossbeam of the truck of the car to which the bracket 26 issecured, and said lever is of sufficient length to extend slightly abovethe cross-beam. To the upper part of each of the levers 29 is fastenedone end of a spring 82 having its other end secured to the crossbeam,and each of said springs serves to swing the levers in a direction forholding the sleeves 22 upon the axles of the wheels so that the teeth ofthe disks 18 will be normally free from mesh with the teeth of the disks1?. The end of each of the levers 29 opposite to its forked end ispivoted to one end of a link 88, and each of said links has a bifurcatedopposite end. Between the prongs of the bifurcated end of each of thelinks 88 is a collar 84 revolubly held upon the arm 85 of a lever 86,and the prongs are pivotally held by pointed screws, or the like to eachof the collars. Each of the links 88 together with each of the collars84 thereby serve as a universal joint for permitting the levers to beswung in directions against the tension of the springs 82. Each of thelevers 86 is substantially L-shaped so as to provide a second arm 87,and each of said levers at the uncture of its arms is pivotally held toa bolt 88 extending above the crossbeam of the truck of the car.

The free end of each of the second arms 87 of the levers 86 of theoperating mechanisms of the clutches 16 for controlling the wheels 1%are pivotally connected to a movable common rod 89 which extendslongitudinally underneath the body of the car, and said rod is pivotedat 40 to a lever, or bar 41 pivotally held to a bolt, as at 1 2, or thelike which may extend from the underside of the body of the car. One endof the lever, or bar 11 is pivoted to one end of a movable common rod18, and to the opposite end portion of said rod are pivotally held thefree ends of each of the second arms 87 of the levers 86 of theoperating mechanisms of the clutches 16 for controlling the wheels 1 1The free ends of each of the second arms 87 of the levers 86 of theoperating mechanisms of the clutches 16 for controlling the wheels 15are pivotally connected to a movable common rod 44 which also extendslongitudinally underneath the body of the car, and said rod is pivoted,at l5, to a lever, or bar t6 pivotally held to a bolt, as at 17, or thelike which may extend from the underside of the body of the car. One endof the lever, or bar 5L6 is pivoted to one end of a movable common rod48, and to the opposite end portion of said rod are pivotally held thefree ends of each of the second arms 87 of the levers 86 of theoperating mechanisms of the clutches 16 for controlling the wheels 15*.

For the purpose of permitting each of the sections 10 and 11 to beindependently operated by compressed air underneath the body of the caris arranged a cylinder &9 having a central partition 50 whereby twochambers 51 and 52 are provided therein, and said chambers have inlets58 and 5%, respectively, for admitting air under pressure thereto.Reciprocable in the chamber 51 is a piston 55 which is pivoted to oneend of a rod 56 having its other end pivotally held to the lever, or bar41, and reciprocable in the chamber 52 is a piston 57 which is pivotedto one end of a rod 58 having its other end pivotally held to the lever,or bar 46. in the inlets 58 and 5-1 of the cylinder 49 are the ends ofthe cross-branch of a T-shaped pipe 59, and serving to control the feedof the compressed air through the T-shaped pipe for alternatelysupplying the chambers 51 and 52, interposed in the cross-branch of thesaid pipe is a cut-off valve 60 which may be of any well-known, orpreferred type. To the other end of the T-shaped pipe 59 is connected apipe 61 which is of sufficient length to extend from end to end of thebody of the car, and the said pipe 61 leads to the usual source of airpressure supply.

As hereinbefore explained, the sections 10 and 11 of the brake areindependently op- Secured erable, one being adaptedtoeheck-the car whenmoving in one direction, and 'the'other section being adapted-tostopthe'car when moving in an oppositedirection. "The air pressure supply tothe inactive section of the brake is thencut-offthrough the medium ofthevalve 60-which will permit themotive agent to be supplied to only one ofthe chambers of the cylinder 49. When-the air pressure is applied foroperating, for instance, the section 10 of the-brake the'piston '18 intomesh with the teeth of the disks 17.

The rotation of the wheels 14 and the disks 17 and 18 will be againstthe tension of the springs 25, and the movement of "the car will begradually checked. When the momentum off the moving car is-overcome theenergy stored thereby in the springs will force a reverse rotation ofthe wheels 14: and

the disks 17 and 18 for moving the car for a a distance in an oppositedirection, and in this manner the car may be stopped within a limiteddistance. This form of -brake may be employed-separately upon a singlecar, or

a train or cars, but is preferably adapted for use in emergency ill-conunctlon with the usual air brake mechanisms especially when it isdesired to quickly stop the train. In

such instances the regular air brake is first applied, and after the airpressure supply thereto is cut-off this brake is then operated in themanner above described. The train will not only be stopped therebywithin a limited distance, but the flattening of the peripheries of thewheels of the cars will also be prevented. V

In the foregoing description, we have embodied the preferred form of ourinvention, but we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselvesthereto, as we are aware that modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the principle, or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthis invention, therefore we reserve to ourselves the right to make suchchanges as fairly.

fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a car brake of the character described, aplurality of clutches, each having two members, one secured to the innerface of one of the wheels of the car, and each of the second membersbeing slidably mounted on each axle of the wheels, said second memberspermitting the axles to be rotated independently thereof, and each ofsaid second members being adapted to engage one of the first members ofeach clutch, 'a cylinder provided upon the car and adapted to receiveair under pressure, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a leverhaving one end pivoted to the piston, a common rod having-one endpivoted to the lever, means connecting the opposite end portion of therod to two of the second members of the clutches on-one'side of the carso-as to slide the second members into engagement with the first membersof the clutches when the rod is moved by reciprocation of said piston,and means adapted to yieldingly check the rotation of the wheels andboth members of each clutch when in engagement.

2. In a car brake of the character described, a plurality of clutches,each having ed on each axle of the wheels, said second memberspermitting the axles to be rotated independently thereof, and each ofsaid second members being adapted to engage one of the first members ofeach clutch, a cylinder provided upon the car and adapted to receive airunder pressure, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a lever havingone end pivoted to the piston, a common rod having one end pivoted tothe lever, means connecting the opposite portion of the rod totwo ofthesecond members of the clutches on one side of the car so as to slide thesecond member into engagement with the first members of the clutcheswhen the rod is moved by reciprocation of said Piston, and

-a plurality of springs, one'provided upon the second member of eachclutch and adapt.-

ed to yieldingly check the rotation of the -wheels and both members ofeach clutch when in engagement.

3. In a car brake of the character described, .a plurality of grippingelements, each having a toothed member secured to the inner face of oneof the wheels of the car, and each having a second toothed memberslidably mounted on each axle of the wheels, said second memberspermitting the axles to be rotated independently thereof, and each ofsaid second members being adapted to engage oneof the first members ofeach gripping element, a cylinder provided upon the car and adapted toreceive air under pressure, a piston recipr'ocable in the cylinder, alever having one end pivoted to the piston, a common rod having one endpivoted to the lever, means connecting the opposite end portion of therod to two of the second members of the gripping elements on one side ofthe car so as to slide the second member into engagement with the firstmembers of the gripping elements when the lib:

rod is moved by reciprocation of said piston, and means adapted toyieldingly check the rotation of the wheels and both members of eachgripping element when in engagement.

4C. In a car brake of the character described, a plurality of grippingelements, each having a toothed member secured to the inner face of oneof the wheels of the car, and each having a second toothed memberslidably mounted on each axle of the wheels, said second memberspermitting the axles to be rotated independently thereof, and each ofsaid second members being adapted to engage one of the first members ofeach gripping element, a cylinder provided upon the car and adapted toreceive air under pressure, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, alever having one end pivoted to the piston, a common rod having one endpivoted to the lever, means connecting the opposite end portion of therod to two of the gripping elements on one side of the car so as toslide the second member into engagement with the first members of thegripping elements when the rod is moved by reciprocation of said piston,and a plurality of springs, one provided upon the second member of eachof the gripping elements, and serving to yieldingly check the rotationof the members of two of the gripping elements when in engagement foryieldingly checking two of the wheels in unison.

5. In a car brake of the character described, a pluralityof tootheddisks, each secured to the inner face of one of the wheels of the car, aplurality of second toothed disks, one slidably mounted on the axle ofeach of the wheels, said second disks permitting the axles to be rotatedindependently thereof, and each of said second disks being adapted tomesh with one of the first disks, a cylinder provided upon the car andadapted to receive air under pressure, a piston reciprocable in thecylinder, a lever having one end pivoted to the piston, a common rodhaving one end pivoted to the lever, means connecting the opposite endportion of the rod to two of the second disks on one side of the car soas to slide the second disks into engagement with the first disks whenthe rod is moved by reciprocation of said piston, and means adapted toyieldingly check the rotation of the wheels and each pair of the diskswhen in mesh.

6. In a car brake of the character described, the combination with thewheels and axles of a car, of a plurality of ratchet toothed diskssecured to the inner faces of the wheels of the car, one of said diskson each of the wheels, a plurality of ratchet toothed disks slidably androtatably mounted upon the axles of the car one adjacent to each of thedisks upon the wheels, and adapted to be engaged or disengaged therewithby slidable movement upon the axles of the car, a cylinder upon the caradapted to receive air under pressure, a piston reciprocable in the'cylinder, a lever having one end pivoted to the piston, a rod having oneend pivoted to the lever, said rod being adapted to actuate a pluralityof arms, each of said arms being provided upon one of the slidablerotatable disks whereby one series of said disks may be thrown intoengagement with the disks secured to the wheels by the reciprocablemovement of the piston and the rod, and a plurality of springs oneprovided upon each of the slidable rotatable disks and serving toyieldingly check the rotation of the disks when in mesh for yieldinglychecking the wheels in unison, substantially as shown and described.

This specification signed and witnessed this twenty-fifth day ofFebruary A. D.

WILLIAM STEINBURG. DANIEL WEGNER.

l/Vitnesses:

Row. B. ABBOTT, PETER STELLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

